UKKid35

Parts fitted today:

Flywheel - 20,000 miles only, looks like new
Pressure plate from GTS - very low mileage, also looks like new
Friction plate - relined
Release bearing - new
Pilot bearing - new
Slave - new when fitted 12 months ago

Good point - Total cost of parts under $550

Bad points - The new clutch smells, it's very sharp, and the bite point is much higher.

The 'new' pressure plate is obviously much stronger than the original, and the relined friction plate isn't springy like the original. I'm not sure which is responsible for the sharper bite, or perhaps both are.

Is there anyway to adjust the bite point? I've always assumed it's not adjustable.

Thanks

jcorenman

Paul,

It sounds like they left out the springs when they relined the plate-- there are supposed to be flat "wave" springs between the two faces to provide some "give". Omitting them would mean the clutch doesn't start engaging until the pedal is near the top of its travel, and then it would be fully engaged with very little pedal travel.

Maybe you got the "race" disc?

AO

How many miles on the new clutch? Depending on the lining material, it may take many many miles for you to properly bed in the clutch. On my SPec Stage 3+, I think they said it would take 450 miles (of city traffic). I think it took me closer to 600. Get yourself stuck in some rush-hour traffic and that should solve some of the sharper bite.

As for the engagement point, I thought I had engagement point issues with my clutch, but it ended up being air in the line. I bled the clutch and all was well. When you bleed the clutch, make sure you pump the clutch pedal several times to get all the air out.

Hope this helps.

stealth

I went from a (slipping when trying any quick starts) GT clutch to GTS and installed a used GTS pressure plate a couple of years ago. I don't think it bit higher at all but rather, simply, bit harder, felt for every start or shift. I used new parts otherwise, though.

UKKid35

OK, so that is confusing. I could replace the relined disc for a new one, and still have too sharp a bite for my relaxed driving style.

jon928se

Paul

The sharp bite could well be due to the fact that you have very few miles on the clutch friction material combined with the possible lack of wave springs between the friction material and the "friction" disc.

You can't do anything about the engagement point - I think it goes lower as the clutch (friction disc, pressure plate and flywheel) gets worn. Judging by the 88SE - high engagement point (40k miles old flywheel, pp, and friction disc) vs 90GT - low engagement point (109k miles old everything afaik)

You could bleed it really badly that would move the engagement point down a bit LOL

UKKid35

The bite could also be in part due to my laziness in not removing all the surface rust from the flywheel and pressure plate (only from the flywheel/pressure plate mating surfaces). Both had been sitting around for a couple of years or more.

I am inclined to think that the disk is the problem. The reline may have saved me £140, but I'm probably going to swap it out if it doesn't improve. No time to do that before the Ring trip this Friday.

UKKid35

Thanks, I'll give that some serious thought

UKKid35

Thanks Jim. By the way, what persuaded you to fit a dual disc clutch, and what improvement have you seen?

jon928se

We all do lazy.

Coating the clutch in oil (aka not changing the RMS or oil pan gasket) makes the bite much smoother!

Could well take a 1000 miles or so to get rid of the rust dust from the surface of the friction discs even after the flywheel and pp are back to bright steel. And rust dust would be very grabby.

UKKid35

The minor oil leaks at the front of the car are the only thing protecting my fuel lines. Towards the rear where the oil can't reach the fuel lines are looking grim.

Lizard928

Paul,

The smell will go away with age, and you will get used to the new biting point.

Just drive the car and enjoy!

martin D

Paul is that the one you had of me ? if so it had 65k miles on it

I've got the matching disk off the pressure plate above , do you want to try it in the next couple of days , or maybe take it with you to the ring ?

Mark Anderson

We have used disc's for $75 and they measure 95% of new. I tried a non factory lining once and went back to stock quickly.

UKKid35

Yes it's the one you gave me! Looked like much less than 65k, there's no lip on it, and very few heat marks. Compared with mine with 211k it looks almost brand new.

I think I've had enough of the clutch for the moment, I'm going to let the relined disk bed in, and then make a decision about whether to leave it in or not. Thanks for the offer though, much appreciated!